Police are still blocking a stretch of Centennial Boulevard surrounding the site of a tanker explosion that sent flames and smoke towering over the Nations neighborhood Wednesday.

Office of Emergency Management Director Charles Shannon said that the road would likely be closed for another two or three days while a private firm completes the fuel cleanup and Metro Public Works repaves the street.

Crews are still working to clean almost 8,500 gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel that spilled from the tanker into sewer lines and Richland Creek. Officials said Wednesday that drinking water was safe and most of the fuel had been contained before it reached the creek.

"Other than a few storm drain grates that had to be reset, the infrastructure appears to be uncompromised," said Metro Water Services spokeswoman Sonia Harvat.

Metro police spokeswoman Kris Mumford said the tanker was pulling out of a fuel depot with a full load when it tipped over on Centennial Boulevard. It hit an empty parked car and later exploded. A thick cloud of black smoke billowed into the sky near the Nations neighborhood.

The driver, Jason Frizzell, 33, of Cookeville, jumped out of the cab and was taken to a local hospital with a minor shoulder injury. He was treated and released on Wednesday night, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Reach Adam Tamburin at 615-726-5986 or on Twitter @tamburintweets.

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